At least 50 Al-Shabaab militants were killed on Saturday in fierce clashes between Somali government forces and community-based fighters along the border of Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, Somali defense officials reported.
The battle erupted in multiple rural areas, including Muqliga Ali, El-Hareeri, Hareeri Madoobe, and Garas Magan, after the militant group launched a surprise assault on a military base. According to the Ministry of Defense, government troops and allied Ma’awisley fighters successfully repelled the attack, inflicting heavy losses on the attackers.
Defense Ministry spokesperson Abukar Mohamed described the operation as a major victory. “Our troops, with the support of local fighters, foiled the enemy’s assault and dealt them a crushing blow,” he said. “We have confirmed at least 30 militant bodies found in the forested zones, with another 20 killed earlier in the fighting.”
This marks one of the deadliest confrontations for Al-Shabaab in recent weeks, as Somalia’s military campaign in central regions intensifies.
The Somali National Army, backed by community militias, has been stepping up operations in Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle to reclaim areas held by the al-Qaeda-affiliated group, aiming to weaken its influence and restore security to rural communities.